Which DLR Hotel and why???

[texasteacher35]

Please help...trying to decide which DLR hotel to book ressie at and have no idea which is really better and what makes one better than the others??!!

Disneyland Hotel??

Paradise Pier??

Grand Californian??

I know the price differences and we have stayed at GF twice in WDW and will be staying at Poly next year in WDW...so we are used to staying at deluxe hotels, but not concierge...standard rooms...so we are up for anything...let me know your thoughts!!! PLEASE!!!

 

[zukeeper]

Depends when you are going. The PP is the last to book up so is sometimes the only choice. Between PP and DLH I would choose DLH for proximity and an edge in Disney magic. GCH is a significant step up price wise. It is a nicer hotel, but I like to let my hair down and it can feel a bit stuffy.

There are AP rates - discount code AP4 right now although pretty well booked up, I believe you can still find some availability. These are 9-15 to 10-15 and 11-15 to 12-15. My PP view room for early Dec is 171.35 incl tax. It would be worth it to get an annual passport for one of you and use it when checking in to obtain the AP4 rate. If you bought through a package, you can take your pass in and upgrade it to the AP on your first day at the park - you just need to do it before checking in. Additionally, you get 10% off with an AP even when the AP rates aren't available, I believe this is true with AAA also when calling the hotel direct and asking for the AAA rate. They will require you show the AAA card at check-in.

 

[honeymom]

We haven't tried PP, but have stayed at DLH and GCH. PP always looks okay, but it does seem like quite the hike to DL.

GCH feels much more like a luxury hotel, but the rooms are small. We didn't find it stuffy, but it does have a more upscale feel and piano player. However, it's still a Disney hotel through and through with lots of kids running around so it is not stuffy. Still you can't compare it to GF or Poly because the room size is so much smaller. More in line with WL room size and actually our WL room felt a little bigger.

DLH was a disappointment. We were used to the amount of theming in WDW hotels and it just felt like a hotel that happened to have some Tinkerbell wallpaper. We just didn't feel the theming. However, if room size is important, the rooms are large - way larger than GCH.

We preferred the pool area at GCH. The loungechairs were really comfortable. It was quieter at the pool, but it probably had to do with season. We had gone to DLH in August when the pool was absolutely packed to the point that it wasn't fun. Even my kids didn't want to be in it. We had gone to GCH in January and were one of the few families insane enough to swim.

From a convenience standpoint - GCH is hands down more convenient to DCA than DLH. We found it slightly more convenient (not significantly) for DL.

 

[texasteacher35]

We are planning on going 12/15-12/22...Christmastime!

 

[Brooklyn]

I do not really think that the GC hotel compares to the GFH or the Poly. It is NOT worth the money in our opinion. We stayed there once and will NEVER go back. The stay was fine but DEF not worth the money.

We LOVE the DLH and PP is a strong 2nd. The rooms in the Sierra tower at the DLH are HUGE! We had 10 people in 2 rooms and everyone fit perfect! Request 2 queens and a day bed! The rooms are a lot larger then an average hotel room.

PP has these great daybeds in the rooms. It feels a little more like a hilton or marriott though with the way it is set up.

Good luck chosing but the GCH does not hold a candle to the GFH or the Poly. WE LOVE THE POLY!!!

 

[Morley Dotes]

We recently stayed at the GCH (using Costco to book our vacation) and it was really great. The service was excellent. They upgraded our room (to a room with bunkbeds and pool view....no charge), they gave us a late check out (1pm). And it was SOOOOO close to the parks. The pools were great (kiddie pool is very nice for infants). We are planning another trip for next summer and will be staying there again. Yes, it may be a little more expnesive, but the convenience and service, for us, was worth it. I think the best way to weight your options is to consider the level of service and convenience you want. For example, if I am going to pay $1000 and will be wasting half an hour or an hour each day, (and I am staying some place for at least 4-5 days) then I think about how much it will cost me to save that time, which could add up to several more hours of fun. Once you consider air fare, etc., a one week stay for a family of four is easily $2000-$3000, or more depending on where you stay and when you go. So, for an extra 10-20%, I save some time and possible headache, I am all for it. I might reconsider when my kids are older, but for now, my time savings are pretty huge, because we still have to come back to our room in the afternoon for naps for the kids (and, ehem, usually we doze off ourselves ).

 

[GailT]

I stayed at the GC last Christmas. Although the rooms are not big as long as you can afford it and you only have 4 or less in the room it can't be beat. the location in itself is worth it, from point A to point, b, c A=hotel B=CA C= DTD it is a hop jump and a skip. I have MS so walking for me isn't as fast as it used to be but becasue everything is so close I can walk it all...gives me some independence back when I am away from home. Have a FUNtastic time no mater what hotel you are going to stay at, you'll be in DL

 

[KerTggr]

I think something else you may want to consider is if & how much time you'd be spending at the hotel. My family likes to have breakfast before heading to the parks and we love the PCH Grill (in PP). They have a Lilo & Stitch character breakfast. The dining options at DLR cannot be compared to WDW. While Napa Rose is nice, there aren't as many kid friendly or themed sit down options as we usually like and PCH fills that gap.

Personally, I feel that DLR is a farther walk than PP. Either way, you can take the monorail from DD (by the Rainforest Cafe) if needed.

 

[drag n' fly]

We are staying onsite for the first time at DL in November. We are staying at the GCH because we wanted to enjoy the amenities of the hotel and the closeness to the park. We got spolied staying onsite at WDW and will never stay offsite again. I would stay at DLH if you want more of a Disney feel and PPH if you are wanting to sve a bit of money but still stay onsite.

 

[VWCat]

we are doing the grand at christmas,heard great things about their decorations;it seemed the more christmasy choice

 

[tinkermell]

We stayed at the CG last year at Christmas time and absolutely loved it! It just has the atmosphere condusive to the holidays. Big beautiful tree, Santa visits, storytelling by the hearth, and best of all for me, were the carolers in the lounge area. They sang accapella, and were dressed in turn of the century costumes.
People always complain about the room size, but I thought it was fine. The bathroom area is huge. We have AP concierge ressies right now at the PPH, but I'm trying to get into the GC any way I can.
One more thing is location, location, location. You walk out of the hotel right into DCA. And not much farther, just steps out the door and through DTD, is DL.
Good luck on your decision! Either way you will have a wonderful time at DL.

 

[kimis]

We really like PP. It is clean and within walking distance. We will be staying at DLH in Dec. I am anxious to check that out too.

 

[ShawnaF]

As far as I'm concerned, you can't go wrong at a Disney property. I like PP because it's less expensive and new. However, the DLH is much more "Disney" with awesome grounds as well. Pools are great at both. We're going to stay at the GC this next time as per husband's request, but that's a little "woodsy" to me and darker. Very elegant and I know the rooms are nicer. However, I like less expensive and longer stays so I would typically pick PP or DLH.

 

[Albort]

actually, i think PP has the best location

hike up 10 min to Monorail to get into Disneyland...

hike east 10 min through GCH to get into DCA...

 

[disney-super-mom]

If you have younger children (or children that can't swim) who would like to go down a big water slide, then you better stay at the PP. The slide there doesn't empty riders into a pool but rather a shallow catch trough, so there's no swimming required.

At the DLH and the GCH, the lifeguards have younger kids take a little swim test if they want to use the big slides. Also, there are no life jackets or water wings allowed when on the slides, so if a child can't at least dog paddle, they will surely be very disappointed not to be able to use the big slide. However, they will be allowed to use the little slides without taking a swim test.

 

[ShawnaF]

We do pretty much what Albort suggested when staying at PP - we go through the GC but usually through DTD after since I just love the feeling. If we've already been inside DL that day, I'm okay with entering through DCA. It's not any further than DLH actually.

 

[texasteacher35]

Wow! This is all great information! Thank you!

 

[meandtheguys2]

The Grand Californian. Other than the pool at the DLH, it was just like a typical Hilton kind of place ate 3x's the cost. The PP hotel looked like a holiday inn.

The Grand Californian was truly grand.

 

[texasteacher35]

I always love the idea of GC...I seem to always like the most expensive for some reason!! So, the PP is like a Holiday Inn?? I do not like that at all! What about the room size at the GC?? Someone said it was small...like how small?? There are 2 queen beds in there and it looks like a table and a couple of chairs! Is it sooo cramped??

Which pools are the best?? I have DD12 and DS2 (barely 2)...are they all crowded? How is the swimming weather in December? Can you still swim in CA??

 

[damo]

We've been at the GC and PP. Although the GC is very nice inside, the rooms are very average and definitely not worth the extra big bucks. We really like the PP rooms and found the walking distance to the parks very easy. We would stay there again in a heartbeat.